Open-top gun holster

ABSTRACT

An open-top holster for a handgun whose grip is exposed, the holster affording maximum security for the gun and yet having the capability of being readily unlatched to facilitate a quick draw. The holster is constituted by a central section having first and second flaps on either side thereof, the first flap being folded over the central section and being secured thereto to define a tapered pocket that is shaped to receive the barrel and trigger assembly of the gun. The second flap is foldable over the first flap and is detachably secured thereto by a snap fastener which may be unlatched simply by forcing a finger between the flaps. Anchored on the central section is a locking stud which projects within the trigger guard of the gun behind the trigger to impede movement thereof as well as to prevent removal of the gun from the holster as long as the second flap is latched.

T: t ill ml [72] lnventor: llltnhert Angell, 514 East 88 Street, New

York, NY. 10028 [22] Filed: llhnly 2, W7 1 [211 AppLNu: EIZAMM".

Primary Examiner-Philip Arnold Attorney-Michael Ebert An open-top holster for a handgun whose grip is enrweetl, the holster affording maximum security for the gun and v halving; the capability of being readily nrrlntehet'l to fnei it tgniel; draw. The holster is constituted by eentr run hrlvhtgy first and secend flaps on either side therein rst tlnp g folded over the central section and being tired theretn in define a. tapered pocket that is shaped to receive llll l'll'si and trigger assembly of the gun. The second flag.) is fnldnhle over the first flap and is detachnbiy secured thereto by a sharp fastener which may be unlatched simply by forcing n linger between the flaps. Anchored on the central section is a locking stud which projects within the trigger guard of the gum behind the trigger to impede movement thereof as well as re prevent removal of the gun from the holster as long as the second flap is latched.

5" Claims, 5 lll rnwlng, ll ignren RELATED APPLlCA'liUll This application is related to my copending application Ser. No. 792,106, filed Jan. 17, 1969, entitled QUlCl-DRAW HOLSTER now US. Pat. l lo. 3,53 l ,03 l.

BACKGROUND OF THE lNVEN'l'lON This invention relates generally to holsters for small arms, and more particularly to an open-top holster which, though it exposes the grip of the gun, provides a high measure of security and yet facilitates quiclt gun withdrawal at the proper angle.

A holster is a leather case for a pistol that more or less conforms to the pistols shape. The design of a holster must take into account two bmic requirements which to some degree are incompatible. The first requirement is security, for it is vital that the pistol be safely held so that it remains on the active person and is not prone to accidental discharge. The second requirement, which is quick withdrawal, is of equal importance, for when the need arises to put the pistol into action, one must be able to draw the pistol from the holster without difficulty, and to raise it to the proper firing position in the shortest possible time.

in order to facilitate quiclr withdrawal, many holsters are open at the top, thereby exposing the grip of the pistol and providing immediate access thereto, the barrel and trigger assembly being socketed in the holster. While in conventional designs, a holster of this type makes quick withdrawal possiblc, it fails to afford adequate security, in that means are lacking to prevent the pistol from accidentally falling out of the holster.

Moreover, with a conventional open-top holster, the sides are closed and one is constrained to withdraw the gun with an upward sweep, after which it is necessary to swing the hand outwardly to raise the gun to its proper tiring position. This complex motion is not best calculated to expedite an effective firing action. ideally, one should be able to draw the gun laterally from the holster so that, with a single arm motion, one is able to swing the pistol counterclockwise from the holster to the hiring position.

it must be borne in mind that pistols are generally witlidravm in a state of excitement and tension, and that any difficulty experienced in withdrawal may have serious consequences. Thus the problem encountered in holster design is that eupedicnts which maximize security are generally at the expense of quiclr withdrawal, for the former factor is in con flict with the latter.

S Ull/lh IARY OF THE lNl/ENTlON in view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an open-top holster which affords both a high measure of security and quick withdrawal.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an open-top holster of the brealt type in which the holster is releasable with a single action whereby the pistol may be gripped and laterally withdrawn in the shortest possible time.

A salient feature of the invention resides in a locking stud arrangement which acts to prevent the gun from falling out or being removed from the open-top holster when the holster is latched, and also serves to impede accidental firing thereof.

Also an object of the invention is to provide an efficient and reliable open-top holster of the above type which may be manufactured and sold at relatively low cost.

Briefly stated, these obiecw are accomplished by an open top, ouiclodraw holster adapted to afford maximum security for a handgun whose grip is exposed. The holster includes a central section having first and second flaps on either side thereof, the first flap being folded to overlap the central section and being secured thereto to define a tapered pocket which is shaped to receive the barrel and trigger assembly of the gun. The second flap is foldable over the first flap and is detachably secured thereto by a snap fastener which may he unlatched simply by forcing a finger of the hand between the its flaps. Anchored on the central section is a .oclring stud which projects within the trigger guard of the gun behind the trigger to prevent removal of the gun and to impede movement of the trigger.

QUTMNE UP THE DliAWlliG For a better understanding of the invention, as well as o er objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein FlG. it is a front elevation of a holster in accorrhirw w'h the invention, the holster being shown in the latched s a handgun therein;

HG. ll. is the same as FlG. ll encept that the holster an latched and in condition for withdrawal of the handgun;

lFlG. fl is a rear elevation of the holster without the handgun;

lFlG. 4 is a plan view of the holster; and

Phil. fi shows the single piece of profiled leather from which the holster is fabricated.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an open-top holster in accordance with the invention, the holster including a pocket generally designated by numeral ill), whose tapered form conforms to the barrel and trigger assembly of the pistol or handgun to be carried thereby. The holster is provided with a loop llll through which a belt is to support the holster at the waist of the wearer. Also provided is satiety strap l2.

its best seen in Fifi. 5, the holster is fabricated from a gle, profiled piece of leather or flexible sheet material having similar characteristics. The piece is come red to define a left flap iii having a tab extension lid, and a flap llfi having a tab ertension to, the 15 being integral a central section ll'7. Central section i7 is provided it angular extension which, when stitched to the outer sur. i central section l7, forms loop ill.

Left flap i3 is folded over central section iii and is secured thereto at the nose of pocket ill by a rivet (not Tl) which pwses through coincident holes 113a and ll'l'u. Tab eittension lid is bent over flap l3 and is stitched thereto (not H6. 35) to provide a reinforced upper edge for the holster. Right flap lid is foldable over left flap l3 and is detacliahly connected thereto by means of a snap fastener whose male element ilS l is affixed to flap llSl.

fab extension in is bent over right flap l5 and is stitcltcd thereto, as shown in lFlG. 2%, to provide a reinforced none within which is placed female element 19%. ULWZ end of safety strap 112 is pivotally connected to the rear of poclret ill, the other end having a female fastener element which snaps onto a male element ZiiY afi'ured to the outer surface of flap id.

The gun held in the holster includes a barrel which is soclrcted in the nose portion of the holster, the grip protruding outside the holster and therefore being inirned ly accessible. it is to be noted that the nose of the holster 1 not fully sealed but is provided with m opening i {Flt d) which allows for drainage and the discharge of any debris wliich may collect in the holster.

The trigger assembly of the gun includes a trigger Tit lwhich is movable within a trigger guard The holster is provided with a slightly conical loclting stud illti: which is anchored on the main section if by means of a screw passing through hole ll'i'b. Stud 265 is positioned within the holster so that it pro jects through the trigger guard in the space therein behind trigger 1%.

Thus when the gun rests within the holster, locking stud prevents removal of the gun therefrom despite the fact that the grip is exposed. 'lhe stud also impedes movement of trigger M- within the guard, so that it is impossible to fire the gun without first disengaging it from the inciting stud.

In order to withdraw the gun from the holster, it is first necessary to release the safety strap. The presence of this strap is, however, optional. it is then necessary to unlatch flap 15. This is done by forcing a finger of one hand between flap l5 and flap 13 to disengage snap fastener l9X-WY, thereby breaking open the holster as shown in FIG. 2.

The gunman who has the grip of the gun in his grasp is now able, with a slight twisting motion, to pull the gun away from the locking stud 26 and to then draw the gun sideways out of the holster pocket, after which he swings the gun counterclockwise to the horizontal firing position, all in a single, uninterrupted motion which is carried out with one hand. Thus in the present open-top holster design, the requirement for security is reconciled with the need for quick withdrawal.

When returning the gun to the holster, the gun is again placed so that the locking stud projects into the trigger guard behind the trigger, and the right flap is then latched onto the left flap, after which the safety strap is snapped on.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of an open-top holster, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention. For example, for purposes of increased security, the locking stud may be provided with a snap fastener to connect its head to the first flap 13. Also the stud may be provided with a small lip adapted to overhang the trigger.

I claim:

1. An open-top holster for a handgun adapted to afford maximum security therefor and having the capability of being readily unlatched to facilitate a quick draw, said holster comprising:

A. a central section,

B. a first flap extending from one side of said central section and folded thereover to define a tapered pocket shaped to received the barrel and trigger assembly of a gun whose grip is exposed, said first flap being secured to said central section at the nose of the pocket,

C. a second flap extending from the opposing side of said central section and foldable over said first flap,

D. a snap fastener detachably securing said second flap to said first flap at a position at which the second flap may be released by forcing a finger between the flaps,

E. a locking stud anchored on said central section at a position in which the stud projects within the trigger guard of the gun behind the trigger whereby movement of the trigger is blocked thereby, and

F. a safety strap extending between the rear of the central section and the second flap, whereby said second flap cannot be released without first disconnecting said safety flap.

2. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said central section and said flaps are formed from a single, profiled piece of leather.

3. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flaps each include a folded-over tab to provide reinforcement therefor.

4. A holster as set forth in claim 1, further including a loop to support the holster on a belt, said loop being formed by a triangular extension integral with said central section.

5. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stud has a somewhat conical form. 

1. An open-top holster for a handgun adapted to afford maximum security therefor and having the capability of being readily unlatched to facilitate a quick draw, said holster comprising: A. a central section, B. a first flap extending from one side of said central section and folded thereover to define a tapered pocket shaped to received the barrel and trigger assembly of a gun whose grip is exposed, said first flap being secured to said central section at the nose of the pocket, C. a second flap extending from the opposing side of said central section and foldable over said first flap, D. a snap fastener detachably securing said second flap to said first flap at a position at which the second flap may be released by forcing a finger between the flaps, E. a locking stud anchored on said central section at a position in which the stud projects within the trigger guard of the gun behind the trigger whereby movement of the trigger is blocked thereby, and F. a safety strap extending between the rear of the central section and the second flap, whereby said second flap cannot be released without first disconnecting said safety flap.
 2. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said central section and said flaps are formed from a single, profiled piece of leather.
 3. A hOlster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flaps each include a folded-over tab to provide reinforcement therefor.
 4. A holster as set forth in claim 1, further including a loop to support the holster on a belt, said loop being formed by a triangular extension integral with said central section.
 5. A holster as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stud has a somewhat conical form. 